Radius-time relation for a parabolic Kepler orbit

ID: radius-time-relation-for-a-parabolic-kepler-orbit

On a nonradial zero-energy Kepler orbit, conserved specific angular momentum gives periapsis and . Integrating with yields . Squaring gives the displayed version of the Barker equation, valid on both incoming and outgoing branches. The time origin is passage through periapsis, not an arbitrary point on the orbit.

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